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Dept for Work and Pensions

Answer

Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the estimated total income for pensioners from (a) benefits and (b) private sources is since 1992; and what this figure is as a percentage. [172494] Mr. Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his latest estimate is of the proportion of pensioners' income coming from (a) state and (b) private sources. [175069] Malcolm Wicks: There is no single data source which covers pensioners' benefit and private incomes between 1992 and the present. The information provided is based on Family Expenditure Survey data between 1992 and 1996-97 and Family Resources Survey data between 1994-95 and 2002-03. Direct comparisons between information from the two surveys should not be made. The table shows the average weekly income for pensioner units (pensioner couples and single pensioners) in 2002-03 prices and rounded to the nearest pound. Private sources of income include private pension income, investments, earnings and other types of income. Both benefit income and private income have increased significantly between 1996-97 and 2002-03, with gross income rising by 20 per cent. in real terms. _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Benefit income Private income Gross income £ per week Percentage of total £ per week Percentage of total Family Expenditure Survey data 1992 213 107 50 106 50 1993 212 113 53 99 47 1994-95 226 118 52 109 48 1995-96 232 117 51 115 49 1996-97 230 122 53 108 47 Family Resources Survey data 1994-95 220 117 53 103 47 1995-96 216 118 55 98 45 1996-97 230 121 53 108 47 1997-98 234 123 52 111 48 1998-99 243 124 51 118 49 1999-2000 252 130 52 121 48 2000-01 265 133 50 132 50 2001-02 273 138 51 133 49 2002-03 277 142 51 134 48 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Notes: 1. Private and benefit income may not sum to total gross income due to rounding, and because free TV licences for over 75s are included in total income but not in either benefit or private income. 2. Percentages are calculated from unrounded cash figures. 3. Analysis consistent with Pensioners' Incomes 2002-03. 4. Family Expenditure Survey Figures are for the UK, Family Resources Survey Figures are for Great Britain.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

175069; 421 c1586-8W

Session

2003-04

Subjects

Income Personal income Pensioners Social security benefits

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk